Is the Quality of Life Better in US or Europe?
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- čas přidán 28. 05. 2024
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This came at such an interesting time in my life. I was born in Europe, moved to Canada, and now, approaching 55, I am looking into moving back to Europe. I think Canada and the US are great if you are career and money oriented and for us it was a great opportunity. But going back and forth to Europe over the last 24 years, I do feel that people enjoy life more in Europe. You are right, it can be an endless debate...
Foreigners go to the United States when their priority is money. Foreigners go to Europe when the priorities are cultural integration, diversity, quality of life, life in society, etc.
Well put
I agree and those considerations would make Europe an ideal destination for retirees if only America retirees had some retirement income and savings.
I agree. I moved to Prague from California two years ago and the quality of life is leaps beyond the US. Safety, healthcare and education are viewed more as a right than a privilege .
I agree. I moved to Prague from California two years ago and the quality of life is leaps beyond the US. Safety, healthcare and education are viewed more as a right than a privilege .
I agree. I moved to Prague from California two years ago and the quality of life is leaps beyond the US. Safety, healthcare and education are viewed more as a right than a privilege .
Every time I go to Europe for 2-3 weeks, I come back more energized, happier, thinner and feeling physically stronger. I get back to the US and within a week or 2, I am already feeling exhausted, without energy and down. The US is bad for my mental and physical health.
Why is that?
Same happens to my wife and I. The US is poisoning us w chemical laced food these chemicals have been banned everywhere in the world but we keep using them. The medical system in the US bankrupts many family even good insurance will deny most claims so you pay for insurance you can't use.
If this is true you should think about relocating permanently. You must also consider that your mental health issues may not be due to where you are living, and other factors might be causing this. Most people feel good when they are on a vacation.
@@miked2075 That’s what I intend to do.
@@lelouchdibritannia4508 In Southern Europe there is a culture of walking, enjoying life, taking life easier, the food is healthier and fresher among other lifestyle differences. Unless you live in a big city in the US, people down walk. If you do, people look at you strange. Many times, there are no sideways or safe areas to walk. There is no encouragement to do that either. I try to walk 1 to 2 miles as often as the weather allows. But it is not enjoyable when you have to constantly watch out for cars and people who are not used to see others walking in the street, not even with a bike. Just 2 days ago, I fell while walking on the street trying to avoid a car from hitting me, the driver as well as the other drivers that saw me fall, not even stopped to ask me if I was ok. The remanning of my 2+ mile walk was very painful.
USA is all about money and status. Europe is about cultural experience, excellent gastronomy, quality of life and integration.
Just money
I mean. With money you can buy all of that. Am I right? Don't you like money? I'd rather have money in my bank account to buy and travel to places I want than having too much free time with a glass of wine by a lake.
Europeans are wealthy enough to pay for their own defense and they don't need the U.S. in NATO. Americans should direct their time, money, and attention improving their own quality of life and not the lives of people who already live better.
@@o_o825 ahaahahha you know almost nothing about international relations, huh? If you did you wouldn't say such a thing. Without the US and NATO, there's no EUROPE. THAT ALL.
Again, Europeans get mad bc everything we do in America, we get more credit and money for it.
@@gabrieldesousa8034 are really saying money buys culture, taste, etc? If anything, it takes it away. People are so blinded by money that they do not see all the negatives it also brings.
It’s very simple: in US you can make more money. But once you realize that happiness is not money but good quality of life, you go back to Europe.
In the US you can make more money, but you also pay a lot more for basic needs (food, healthcare, transportation, housing, ...). Here is a good, detailed video on this topic: czcams.com/video/DWJja2U7oCw/video.html
@@fawkesmorque I don’t need video lol. I live here. I perfectly know how US works. For me personally - yes, you can make more money here but it won’t make you happy since you’re becoming a slave to those money.
@@Nastia0307 it really depends. If you think that working a 9-5 anywhere will make you happy, you are dreaming lol. If you own your own business, and enslav--errhem hire someone else to take care of the business and all the stress this may create, while you sit back and relax then you will very much be happy :)
@@JPCommenting there’s huge difference between 9-5 in US and in France for example. 9-5 in corporate America means no maternity leave, almost no vacation time, sick days, culture of working overtime etc. Believe me there’s huge difference. I personally love my job and what I do, just wish we had better work culture and benefits like in Europe.
@@Nastia0307 nah i’ve tried liking it. I actually live in MA USA and work for a Swedish company so i have more than 1 month off per year and 8 weeks of maternity/paternity leave, i am earning more than $150k in household income and have a fairly okay healthcare. The 9-5 life in general is not great imo lol
I have a brother who lives in Lleida, Spain; while he says it is beautiful, yes they get lengthier breaks but the pay itself is trash and barely enough to get by. Also he wishes the breaks would be quicker so he could just get back home.
I also have cousins that live in Sweden, who brag about their 400 sqft apartment in Stockholm (that my aunt basically bought for them with her life savings). Meanwhile i own an almost 3000sqft house for half the price of the Stockholm apartment in a fancy place with some of the best schools in the State.
Also the pay is not great in Sweden compared to the US, an application specialist in EU may earn around $40k on average where in the US (at least in states like MA, NY and CA) they can get anywhere from $60 - $150k, yet in most nordic countries the pay is around $40k while the housing is getting closer to US prices. So the grass is not really that much greener on the other side.🤷🏻♂️ the other good thing about the US is we are actually embracing remote work a lot more. I work from home 99% of the time which saves me money as well.
If you can make your money in the US and live in Spain though, then i’d think you have the best of both worlds, due to their good climate, beautiful views, friendly people and really good healthcare and the $$$ you make in the US to be able to buy a really nice place and all the better stuff. If you don’t really have any ties left in the US this would not be a bad choice at all.
Portuguese living in the Netherlands here.
Why are more Europeans moving to the US than the other way around? 2 words: Marketing and Indoctrination. First of all, by this I do not mean Europe is intrinsically better than the US (it is for me, but that is my opinion), just to explain why the consistent net migration to the US.
Marketing: the US is a culturally dominant country, in the sense that its cultural output, good or not, overwhelms the rest of the world. This paints a picture of the country which is rosier than the reality (unless you watch a documentary, you wouldn't know about people calling Ubers instead of ambulances). I myself thought for a long time I'd like to move to the US to get a much better paying job, until I actually started going there frequently for work and realized... Hell No! So, Marketing is highly responsible for Europeans (at least those not desperate) wanting to move to the US.
Indoctrination. Here comes the other side: why do US citizens not want to go to Europe? Well, first of all ask average americans how much they know about Europe and the questions will be ridiculous. Not their fault, just that the US basically teaches nothing about the rest of the World. Then there are things like Pledge of Allegiance, US Anthems being played before any farting competition, mountains of flags everywhere, God Bless America's at the drop of a hat, and you create a mindset where people act against their own interests and stay in the US even when their well being would be better served by going (besides, having to pay taxes even after leaving is a big issue). I met one person who was deciding where to send her daughter to college. I mentioned that those studies could be done in Europe, in English, at a high level education institution, and where the cost of tuition would be (at worst, if no funding would be available) about 15% of that of her cheaper option in the US. And to that adding a much lower cost of insurances, housing, etc. She was astonished and considered seriously, but decided that it was better for her daughter to stay in the US, on the other side of the country (a 5 hour flight, vs 8 to Europe) burdened with debt and in a somewhat unsafe city (for US standards, very unsafe for European standards). Choice against her better interest. Why? Because it was home (eve half a continent and 5 hours away).
Nailed it.
@jmsa2760 any ideas about living in the Netherlands compared to Portugal? We are just considering the other way around because of pace of life and other things
When I moved to the USA from Switzerland, I knew I’m giving up a lot. But I was not aware of how much quality of live life I’m giving up. I was also not aware of that the USA is a 3rd world country with laws and habits from middle age and uncivilized people. I’m moving back to Europe by the end of next year. I just still have to figure out to what country I want to move to. A good healthcare system and lot’s of sunshine is important for me.
@@SN-bl6xm Sounds like you want to move to Spain then. The problem with Spain is it has a low amount of jobs and not much $$$ but it is sunny and the healthcare is fantastic!
btw you can absolutely get the European experience in the US and arguably an even higher quality of life, BUT you have to have the $$$ to get it :) otherwise to the ghetto with all the junkies it is.
@@SN-bl6xmMove to Spain with a German or Swedish remote job
I'm glad that so many Americans are now learning about the rest of the world - and bc they are finally realizing what is that bubble they've living in; and all that explains the amount of Americans thinking about relocating to Europe. You see, that land of the free isn't actually located in North America.
I see people in search of a better life, and I don't believe in borders, so choose wisely and pack your bags. All the best!
Sadly the percentage is still much lower than one would hope but as Mark Twain once famously said…
“The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.”
@@DaveinPortugal Love that quote, so very true.
A country without borders is sheer madness .Imagine your house without a front door and everybody comes in uninvited, eats your food, takes a shower , sleeps in your bed then refuses to leave .That's Europe now and if you studied history it's not going to end well .
@@matildesantos4215 rs
@@matildesantos4215 Well put! There’s a reason why I have a lock on the door to my house.
Currently living in Hawaii and grew up on both the west coast and east coast of the USA. Though all of my immediate family recently moved to Europe in Greece. I have EU citizenship too and am planning to move to Portugal on my own early 2025 as I want to be closer to them and also am really needing to leave the USA in general for a lot of different reasons, one of the big factors to me is the food. I feel like in order to try to eat healthy in the USA I have to pay double or triple the price (especially in Hawaii) and the food quality ends up still being low a lot of times despite shopping at a health store lol (I saw a $87 big can of jackfruit at a health store last week and $9 for 4 organic avocados) . (organic oat milk or bread has canola oil in it or the additives in foods, I don't feel as physically healthy here no matter how hard I try). Shopping local can be done but is often an extremely high cost, the access to healthy food and restaurants for not insane costs in Europe is something that is incredibly appealing. The crime and homeless population of local, native or minorities is really sad to see here on island and in the USA with little assistance and the gun crimes in the mainland US. Lots of other reasons for the move, but I love your channel as it's really helpful for preparing for Portugal especially being in my early 20s :)
🙌🏻
Hawaii is a huge challenge except for the top 5% $-wise. I had to move away, as well. You do leave a piece of Your heart behind, as they say. But, Portugal is a decent fallback. For Sure. The EU Citizenship is something that offers tons to enjoy, if You have an open mind.
Thats so awesome. Great luck in eu trip 😉
That’s so interesting! I am Portuguese, born and raised in Portugal until my family moved to Luxembourg where I lived for a little over 2 decades and currently living in Hawaii. I feel you when you say it’s hard to eat healthy here, that’s a daily struggle for me. There’s not a day I don’t think about Europe, I personally do prefer Europe. My husband is American and that’s the reason I am in the U.S. for this next season. We may move back to the mainland in few years as Hawaii is insanely expensive and things that I prioritize as an EU citizen like good health care and good education is very limited in HI. Moving back to Europe is on the table too :) I hope you enjoy Portugal, it’s not all roses there either (mainly because of our comic government) but I love it. And finally, thank you Dave for your videos! It’s nice to see Portugal through an American perspective 😁
I moved from Switzerland to the US (Nevada) a few years ago. My dream was to move to Hawaii one day. But I had to figure out, that I need to move back to Europe to be happy. I want to move back to Europe by the end of next year and I’m also wondering about moving to Portugal.
Here in Europe ain't no shooting in schools or shopping centers, no wooden houses no restrictions on reading ANY! Books, we have social security, and we can keep going on and on 😊
You're not correct. There have been shootings in Europe. Books ? We have books too lol. Social security ? We have it also. Wooden houses ? Maybe some, but our houses are bigger, have basements, better set up inside, more modern. There are trade offs , good and bad to both. Glad you like where you live. I like where I live too.
Wooden houses are common in Sweden
In the USA, everything is a business.
They hate taxes and socialism but pay way too much for insurances. These companies do the same thing with the money as the government of other countries (if someone needs it, they'll use it, otherwise it's just profit). However, in other countries you can get help without going bankrupt. Another perk of it being public is that if the government needs to allocate money from the citizens from healthcare to education it is much easier.
Dave, you nailed it. I have many friends in the US and i love visiting them and enjoying US culture. But for all the reasons you say, i couldn't live there. Number one is universal health care.
There are always pro ans cons of living in every place but speaking about health insurance, violence and food quality, I can say that there's a huge difference between the two continents. I'm from Rome and I live in Berlin at the moment. Unfortunately, the italian job market is still kinda closed, so speaking about the job market in Europe, I can say that the northern countries are handling a little bit better contracts and work conditions than the southern ones (e.j. Italy, Spain). In U.S. I've heard that the job market is pretty open to everyone. So that might be a difference. There are a lot of differences within european countries though...another example is health insurance, while in Italy is free cuz it's universal, in Germany is private and you must have it cuz it's required by law. It's usually paid by your employer but if it's not it can cost you (depending on the plan and situation) around 350€ per month. On the other hand, here (Germany and other northern countries) universities are free while you pay them in some european countries. Another huge difference is the weather. I miss so much my sunny italian weather 😢 not mentioning the friendly people and the night life. If you chose to move to a northern country in Europe, be prepared to see the sun only once in a while. ✌🏻
I’m Swiss and moved to the US a few years ago what was a huge mistake. I want to move back to Europe. I love sunny and warm weather. I’m wondering about moving to Southern Italy, Sardinia, Mallorca or Portugal. For me it’s important to live somewhere where there’s good health care, a good hospital nearby and I would love to be able to do my groceries by foot. What cities in Italy and Sardinia would you recommend for living? I do have to say, that I am living off of disability money I get from Switzerland. So I can’t move to a expensive city.
Hi @@SN-bl6xm well, if you want to move to Southern Italy, the regions of Puglia, Sicily and, as you mentioned, Sardinia, are a great place to live. I can't suggest a particular city because it depends on your interests and necessities but I can tell you for sure, the characteristics, pros and cons of big cities and small cities are the same. Still, if you want to be able to do your groceries by foot, then I'd suggest a medium (provinces) or large city. Hospitals have good service in general but I can't give you more details because I never lived in those regions. Anyways, expect to find friendly people and marvelous beaches when you get to any of those regions. ☀️
Right now I'll take Europe anytime. US is not what it used to be.
Make the money is US go spend it in Europe
It's depends on which country in Europe Iceland Switzerland are prosperous nations
The answer to your question, why so many europeans try to establish themself in US or Canada, it is not because of the spectacular quality of life (which is not) or the rich and magnificent culture (which is not). But, because of the job opportunities and the salary advantages (which, both, are very good, especially, if you are a highly educated). Also, because of the perception (or rather, kind of a legend, that the "money can be found on the street". I'm not saying that life in US or Canada is bad. It is not. It is very good. I have been living in Canada (well, in Québec) for over 40 years, did my postdoc in the US, and traveled all over the continent (which is magnificent and vast to explore). Cheers!
We are super excited to visit Portugal in April! Enjoyed your videos!
I’ll be visiting early next year! I’ve been lucky to travel for the past 10 years, but your channel made me finally make the trip to Portugal.
Why is Europe better than US? No guns. Simple as that.. Safety is the highest priority.
LOL In Europe only criminals have guns. And there are WAY more illegal guns than you think !
No guns, but lots of migrants. Things aren’t as safe as they used to be in Europe, crime rates are going up every year, even though still very far from US rates. Just give it time, it’s getting worse by the day.
Obrigado Dave.
Really hope all good guys like you feels at home in Portugal.
Um abraço
I’m in Southern California and I work 14 hours a day six days a week just to pay my basic living expenses. I haven’t had a week long vacation in over 10 years and I take one weekend off a year. I have no quality of life and it’s because the cost-of-living is so outrageous here. I can’t work any more than I am and most people are struggling. Trying to run a business here is simply impossible with all the regulations and the high liability insurance and the high rents. No one can make any money here. It’s a bottomless pit. Hopefully, I will be getting my visa in the next six months to Portugal.❤I’m in the process….
How about looking for a small town in the US (there are plenty of options) and reset your life, enjoying it at a slower pace? If you think that coming to Portugal will solve your business issues, you are in for a big surprise and you will be very disappointed. Loads of taxes and fees, endless bureaucracy, slow state, financial suffocation… The majority of small and medium companies end up closing their doors after a few months or years because they can’t withstand the state’s economic asphyxiation. It’s one of our biggest handicaps, that doesn’t attract investment. I know that, I am Portuguese and had companies / businesses in Portugal (and other countries, for that matter). Even in Africa I encountered places with much less bureaucracy then in Portugal. Portugal is a beautiful country with great food and friendly people, but it is an economic nightmare for entrepreneurship!
I am from Slovenia. I lived 2 years in USA. This was long time ago when my country was still poor. When I moved there (California bay area, Napa..). I was so disapointed. I was young and thought all US was one big Hollywood and every one isna milionar 😂. After two years I saw this life style is not for me (people just work work work, I found USA extremly boring and ugly). So I moved back to my country and never look back. Here I amma physic teacher, working 20 hours per week, having almost 3 moths payed vecation. With my salary I can aford a nice big house and I own horses, I travel Europe with a plane at least 3 times a year, now I am buying a nice sail boat( used ofcourse). I can say my life is extremly comfterble and would never look back. My country also developed and is one of beat country to live in by global ranking. I still have many good friends in USA. I also know at least 5 people who moved there. Most of them came back but some love living there. So the lends on the person. Mostly who moved there are hard workoholics who just love to work 24/7. Sad thing is, they make so much more money and have so much less things and almost non of a free time.
You were in Napa and SF Bay Area and you thought it was ugly?? What kind of world do you come from, sounds like you just couldn’t cut it in the US and went back. No need to put it down though
@@AltaicPride01 i moved to napa lader, it look most similar to place i am from. I was in Valeho first
@@AltaicPride01 but you can just go to google, write in Slovenia and you will see where I come from
In America people live to work and in Europe people work to live
Slovenia is a little gem in Europe, often not even recognized by other Europeans. Glad life is great for you! :)
What about the crime, homelessness, job security, human rights, work rights, rent/groceries prices, etc. Those are main differences of life quality..
EUA is expert in crimes, homeless people, woke schools and low quality of life.
Heading back home to Portugal in February from the USA to visit and making plans to spend more time there.
Great overview, but I wish you'd shared more of your own take. More personal insights, less cautious neutrality, would have been made it better in my opinion. Keep it up though!
indubitably.
@@DaveinPortugalI've revised my initial comment, as it was overly harsh and not constructive. Apologies
Mate, the UK is not in the EU. You got your map wrong.
I like your channel. You have a good way of expressing things.
Excelent video, TY for sharing.
Congratulations for your channel.
TC
Thank you for the kind words and support 🙏🏻
In my opinion at least in Portugal the American dream this death, most people i know in Portugal when they want no move they perioritize countries in EU and if they want money they go to countries like Dubai where they receive a lot of money in a short time and the immigration process is simpler.
At least the people I know even when they work for American companies don't think about moving to the USA.
Very well done analysis thank you 🙏🏻
Thank you 🙏🏻
Love this video, well done.
Great video! 👏
Good to see you content in Portugal. I spent a week there (Lisbon) 20 years ago. Been to more than 1/2 the countries in the EU and Italy and Spain seem to be in a tie for my vote. Was a resident in Spain in 2021/2022 and loved it. Was my quality of life better? Not sure, but it was great. I will be moving back in the near future.
Quality of Life is a state of mind. I know rich people who are miserable and humble people who are content. But I also know vice versa
So true. I was 59 when I left my 6-figure job to be an Auxillar de Conversaction in Spain. Realized no way could I go back to working 80+ hours in a job that was soul crushing. 3 of my siblings have already left southern California, 1/2 my friends have retired out of the area. My budget is tight, but doable. Once I ran in to a colleague of mine, I hadn't seen in years, and he heard I moved to Spain and owned a bar in Barcelona and had a had an apartment above it! That was when I was about 30 and my dream. Talked about moving there in my 20's. LOL life is funny and short! Glad you didn't wait. @@DaveinPortugal
No, i dont think have a quality of life in Portugal, Spain is better. The prices of the houses are more fair and the infrastructure of the country is more modern than Portugal, Portugal doesn’t have quality of life, in my opinion… if you work for another countries maybe u can handle with the prices of everything but if you work in a Portuguese company is it impossible!!!
Goodness gracious Dave, come off the fence.
Boiling water may be hotter than ice.
I have never listened to so many may be's.
There may be more gun crime in the US than the EU really took the biscuit.
I love your videos, but man oh man 😂
Politifact reports:
The day after six people died in a mass shooting at a Chesapeake Walmart, Virginia Del. Cliff Hayes Jr., D-Chesapeake, said the nation must discuss why it has so many "homicides and handgun killings."
"When you compare us here in this country to the European Union, we’re something like 23 times more likely for these incidents to occur here," he said during a Nov. 23 interview on CNN.
We fact-checked Hayes’ statistic and found it’s essentially correct. He was referring to a May 2022 report published by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.
The IHME compared the 2019 murder rates from firearms - not just handguns, as Hayes said - between countries across the globe. Among the findings is that the firearm homicide rate in the U.S. was 22 times larger than in the European Union as a whole.
2:19 why is the UK in the european union?
Ambitious people are much better off in the US. If you are content with little, you are better off in Europe. I’m nearing an early retirement in my mid 40s, and will enjoy spending time in Europe. But I realize I could never have had an early retirement if I had a career in Europe. Europeans ask “early, how can you retire early? We don’t get a pension until our 60’s!”. It’s just a different mentality.
Work to live > Live to Work
Actually you could achieve in the UK what you have achieved. And the last time I checked...UK is in Europe
That kind of thing is now much more possible in places like Dubai, Singapore and even China. I'm sorry to say but the US is becoming frail and spent now. New economic giants are taking the lead. Forgot to mention India
@@marisa6935
@@marisa6935professional salaries in the UK are typically half or less of those in the US. Bankers in London do well but that’s about it.
You can also have a peaceful and enjoyable life in american small towns. There are plenty of options.
We are from UK living in US for 6 years. In the top 5% of earners in the US healthcare is amazing, housing is affordable, pay is fantastic, entrepreneurship is easier. Potential for travel inside and outside of the US is convenient. If you can pay, Education is more progressive and than anything i’ve seen in Europe. I couldn’t imagine moving back to England. We will just base in the US and travel a lot.
I am from Italy and my wife is from Portugal. We moved to Long Island for employment opportunities that we could not say no to. Having a union job I was provided with health insurance. I am not rich and the medical system from my experience has been far more organized. The EU bureaucracy was exhausting. Scheduling doctors visits are far less stressful.
I wouldn’t move back to England unless I was very rich. Generally, ( my sister lives there still); I’m now an American Citizen, but I can’t believe how many places are deplorable and run down which most people that have emigrated there take advantage of the health system and the housing crisis is worse. Many people emigrate to the United States and there are many different cultures, in the United Kingdom they come and take advantage of everything that is free and ( for myself), I believe that “ when in Rome, do as the Romans do “. It’s fine,but please keep this Country clean
I really wanna live in Europe once I turn 18 because my grandma used to live in Germany for 10 years back in 1982 and she was always telling me how nice it was and how much better it was then the USA but the only reason she was in Germany for 10 years was because she was stationed in Germany since she was in the us military
The percentage of foreign-born people living in the US who are from Western, Southern and Northern Europe (gonna exclude gems like Ukraine and Moldova here) is something on the order of 5%, which includes people who moved over in the mid-20th century, when the disparity in quality of life was vast and England and France were experimenting with socialism
Thats a strangely American question- Europe is incredible different depending on which country you actually live
Dave! Hello, from US planning a trip to Portugal and have an unusual question. Is it possible to find a family to stay with while I am traveling around? I want to visit Nazare and Sintra just to mention two. I would like to learn and experience the culture and learn as much as I can. Might you know if there are websites or a Google phrase you can recommend?
For me it’s the gun issue, I could not send my child to school worrying about that, living in Ireland our Gardai don’t even have guns
Love it or leave it. I was told that when I was an exchange student in USA in 1987. Afterwards I spent more years in US. I agree. If U don't like Europe, love or leave it means go home where you feel better, maybe visit later.
Hi dave! Great channel. Few questions, as im planning om moving/buying a house in portugal myself aswell. Did you get residency in portugal before or after you bought a house? How much was the down payment? I read you can get 70-80% maximum? Any insights on resources on this would be highly appreciated!
Fair, objective, relevant 👍
America offers a level of upward mobility that many European countries don’t, especially P.I.G.S. I understand that these comparisons make for better content, but let’s forget that it’s the money that Americans make in America… thanks to American corporations or entrepreneurship, that allow them to cherry pick which town in Europe to buy property.
Problem is. Grass is greener on the other side. Or is it? Life is hard everywhere but less of a Hunger Games in Europe.
We like this topic, but can you narrow it down? Can you please make a video geared toward retired people who are thinking about moving to Portugal?
People live longer in Europe
Wow, good video!!! I find there the actual questions ⁉️ for me
An element of quality of life is living having a shared culture, language, history and being close to your extended family. This place usually is in the land of your birth.
Or it might be having access to other cultures, cuisines, languages and so on. All depends on what you value as quality of living.
Most Americans live on long vacations in Europe but Europeans in the US create a life, be it a husband, children, etc.
I'm looking forward to moving to old town Covilha with D7.
Me and my girlfriend will be living in Spain within the next 8-10 years and we can't wait to change and better our quality of life! In the USA we laugh at the Kardashians because they are a joke. In Europe they laugh at us as if the USA is all Kardashians.
I moved from Switzerland to the USA a few years ago. That was a huge mistake. I want to move back to Europe by the end of next year. How much money do you need in Portugal to pay rent in a city, car and car insurance, health care, food?
I am surprised that you wanted to move to USA from the best European country
1500 rent, food at least 120 for groceries, car it depends what you need...healthy insurance like 60 per month other bills like water, electricity like 150 per month all together
The quality of life is directly proportional to how rich you are, completely independently from where you are
One important thing I don't think was mentioned here: Wages. I was looking at potential jobs for when I graduate my PhD program, including jobs in other countries (I'm in the US). The jobs I saw in Europe generally had much lower salaries for the same positions. Obviously it's not all about the money, but that shouldn't be left out of a quality of life discussion, especially if considering the ability to afford raising kids, as implied by the inclusion of the section on education.
The salary must also be seen in relation to the cost of living, right? Otherwise it's a milkmaid's bill. If the state supports you with children, like in Europe, that is a plus point for the EU. Parental leave paid and by law, for example.
In Europe we don't have to spend as much money to raise children or pay private liability insurance. No student loans to reimburse. And no risk of going bankrupt due to illness.
Wages are lower in Europe, so is the cost of living. Education is free (in most places), health care is free (in public services and cheap on private), food and services are cheaper, transportation is cheaper.... Depending on the place you are in the USA/EU, you can live in Europe with the same standard of living, making half the money you make in the US.
Dave I've been enjoying your videos and appreciating your hard work in helping us make an informed decision for moving to Portugal or not. But this is the first of your videos that sounds like you're just reading AI content.
My family is from The Azores Islands and they definitely live a better life than us in The USA
I would leave usa in a heartbeat if i had the means and money. even in portugal u must show u have $10,000 in the bank to get a D7 visa.
Grass is always greener…the human condition
There are plenty of things that the USA does better then europe and quality of life is something personal. If I would move to the USA, I must be able to adapt to their way of living. Also important is the language and to find a job. With a education in europe and knowing english it is easier to find a job in the USA. In the Netherlands there is even a discussion going, pleading for attracting lesser expats and lesser foreign studunts. I'm not sure if I agree with that. But for sure, you can attract a lot of people with no effort.
I love it here in Portugal. But I get that it is more expensive on the mainland.
Hi
Im swapna from india
Is it safe place for me to work in portugal as a non IT employee
Interesting how Americans, even educated, view Europe as one country or at least as an entity same as the US with its states. While on that continent people would say, " Germany vs US". "France vs. US"
I would add that most Europeans view the US as one country, ignoring the size and diversity of the US. I think it's a human trait...
@@sarahnd because it is one country. one political unit . Europe is not one country.
And every place is diverse. Even Korea is diverse.
Comparing America to Europe is apple to oranges.
There are alot of European's in South Africa
*The rate of decline is much faster in the USA David. Visit Seattle, San Francisco or San Diego. it’s heartbreaking*
These cities are blighted by massive increases in drug taking, a fentanyl crisis.
The education system is obsessed with woke and DEI issues.
Massive declines in propsperity and massive and rapid increases in crime.
This felt a little too broad of subject matter. Casting a wide net on this one.
you are king in Bulgaria!!!!!
Most French people I know who are moving to North America are doing so because they believe in competition and the virtues of capitalism. They often want to create a startup or work extra hours to move up in their company because they are career driven. They often complaint about the French people being lazy, always on strike and valuing a little bit too much their personal life over their professional life and their productivity. They value personal success more than anything else. However, they are also pointing the fact that salaries are higher in North America, the proximity with nature offers a better peace of mind than the population density in Europe. But overall, I would live in Europe any time if my employer was offering me the choice and the exchange rate wasn't so bad for us (I live in Canada and the Canadian dollar is worthless).
I sounds like quality of life in the US is characterized by disparity, some of the best and worst. Great for a minority of people, not so great for most of the rest.
Both areas have pros and cons in many aspects but when it comes to quality of life this isn't even debatable.
Let's be real for a moment. Do you want to live in a country where you spent the majority of your life working for someone else's bonuses. All that money you've grinded for goes to big pharma because it's a financial challenge to eat healthy as even that costs more. You can't walk anywhere because cars come before people. Where some road rage could lead to gun murders.
The US has some better aspects for sure but quality of life? Naaaah not even close like it's an actual joke. The US citizens barely have human rights.
America is an invention of Europeans, it is certainly not the America that the native people would have wanted, I don't know if it would be better or worse, as the natives were either killed or placed on reservations, America is simply a country with European roots with its differences like any European country.
There He goes again... :) - C'mon Dave, some of us cannot be there for economic reasons. We know, life is better there, already. ------------(it's a mess in the -mitten- USA) --------------- But, really Cheers, glad You're able to be there at least. I just cancelled a trip to LIS.
3:44 it's university from my city in Ukraine
Your map is slightly out of date, not including Croatia 🇭🇷 and showing like the UK is still there 😅
@daveinportugal UK is not part of the European Union anymore...
⭐️
The quality of life at my house is the best on the planet.
US culture might be open for debate but America has some of the most unique and beautiful parks and landscapes in the world.
Not wrong about that 🏜️🏔️🏞️
How do you know if you haven't looked elsewhere? China? Patagonia? Brasil? Canada? South East Asia? India? Europe? If you only stay home, you always believe nothing can beat it
@@helenasantos957 What I am saying is that there may be a lot of things to criticize about the US but that the park system is pretty fantastic. Of course there are other beautiful places in the world.
I used to think so until I travelled extensively in Europe. From Norway to Greece, to various mountain systems such as the Alps and incredible coastlines there are hundreds of national parks. As for desert and canyons Morocco is just a stone's throw away. All parks are free, have excellent trails, camping and there is always a historical village with good wine and food nearby. I think it is at par with the US. Just go there and find out for yourself.
Though I do find the idea of living in a big American city somewhat appealing, American Suburbia looks like my version of hell, with its cardboard houses and HOAs, it’s like a perverse mockery of human existence.
2 place
Financial aid and scholarships don't address it at all
I have been watching your videos with great pleasure for a while now, but this one was disappointing, sorry... I found you waffled a bit trying to avoid the "real" and true comparisons to be made here. You seemed wary.... maybe CZcams or someone has hinted that you must not "offend" one side or the other by opening up in black and white? Just felt wishy washy and inconclusive. Nice to see you again though.
Thank you for your comment
What would a anhlo know about quality of life in the US?
Why would I want to go anywhere else since the U.S. is the best country in the world and california is the best state in the union? We are the richest, most cultured and civilised people in the world. Look how crazily other countries consume our culture? We invented Hip-Pop, internet and give the world Kardishians.
segment on Crime begins: BLARING HIP-HOP-LIKE MUSIC PLAYS
dude... this negative association isn't new. please do better.
I was dumped here. I hate US. Parents went back to Canada, my country. At 15 not easy to just go from one country to another. I have both UK and Canadian citizenship. I'm now on own, a widow, and now able to leave.
Many Europeans have become tired of American hegemony in too many sectors... and especially of their great lack of culture.
Dave, I lived in 5 Europeans countries. Although I did enjoy myself, I still prefer the US. Food quality is very important.
The US offers boundless opportunities. That is one of the reasons why millions are paying to come here. If your goal is to be rich, the possibilities are greater in the US.
I create my own quality of life. There is organic and fresh food everywhere. It might cost more, but it is available.
As for health care, Americans have to fight for it. The leaders should make it a priority. If we would put pressure on the politicians, we could achieve it.
One doesn't have to leave the US to have a good quality of life.
Hey if you’re a sovereign individual, good for you 🙌🏻 thanks for the comment. If you perceived the message of this video as having to leave the US for a good quality of life… you didn’t stay until the end. 😜
Your argument is food quality, that's a joke right? Okay, you might be able to get them if you can afford it, but what percentage is that?
@@arnodobler1096it’s not that hard to live on a healthy diet in the USA. It is more about personal discipline than lack of healthy food. When one is committed to the right choices it’s easy to eat well, it’s not expensive if you do just a tiny amount of research.
Local cattle farms charge much less for organic beef and they will butcher right in front of you. You just have to go directly to the source.
@@miked2075 Like I said, what % have access to it? 80% of US Americans live in cities. Most US food is banned in Europe and many other countries for health reasons. But I'm happy for YOU that YOU have access. It's not just about meat, also bread, vegetables etc. The shortest life expectancy (decreasing) in the USA, compared to the OECD, also has reasons for this. In Europe people eat more locally and seasonally. Healthy and yummie
@@arnodobler1096pretty much most Americans have access to this since it is affordable and easy to locate through a google search. It’s not expensive or exclusive. Most people just choose not to exercise these options. It’s more about personal discipline and commitment than anything else.
Did you just say yummie?
All of the good points covered in this video. And it’s true that they are very individual and debatable. You seem to be well rounded and hold yourself great in front of the camera. The videos that you post are educational. Any journalistic background?
From the outset I'll say I fond the quality of life in Europe vastly superior to that of the US. that being said, I don't think you mentioned everything you should have in this video, especially about things which may tip the balance in favour of the US for those who prefer that.
1. Stay at home (mums/dads). In the US it is much more common to see one spouse stay at home, That means usually a lot more quality time with the kids. I personally would not like that, neither for me nor for my partner, but for those who value it, the US gets the nod.
2. Financial potential. Well, this is a no brainer: the US has a much higher ceiling for potential earnings than Europe. Salaries can be much higher (especially for people with higher education) and starting businesses can be much easier and get greater financial rewards. You may work more, but this is a clear point the US has in favour.
3. Consumer choices. It isn't always clear cut and for me not even desirable, but consumers have a lot more choice in the US. Be that breakfast cereals or exercise bikes, this is a fact.
4. Availability and diversity of Nature. Granted, the US citizens do not have a lot of time to enjoy it, but the breadth of Natural wonders available in the US is astonishing and vastly superior to those of Europe. Normal for a "younger" region (counting the US opposite of Europe as wholes) and also less populated.
5. Level of entertainment. I find i overwhelming, but in the US it is difficult to get bored with the amount of entertainment available. I dislike much of it, but many do not.
Anyway, for me, healthcare, education, violence (gun or otherwise), social safety nets and a simple culture of enjoying life as opposed to just making money will always give the nod to Europe, But others may disagree. And that is also fine.
As a German, I would like to say that generalizations don't work. Europe is so different. Regarding point 3 selection, what is the question? At the cream cheese counter or in the bike shop? Breakfast cereal goes to the USA, but affordable fresh produce? Regarding point 4, yes the USA has great landscapes and national parks, but they are also here and they are easily accessible. There's a lot more happening outdoors here, even in winter. Outdoor and hiking is a popular sport here, not just once or twice a year. Everything is relative. Kind regards from Lake Constance
Euro-American here. I find Europeans just as ignorant about the US as vice versa and just base their views on media or the one vacation they took there. Secondly, quality of life is largely based on location/region in the US. For example, New England has a very high quality of living that compare, or even exceed, many European countries. And healthy foods were easy to get because of all the local farms and farmer's market there. And New England is very safe, even safer than most of Europe. And obviously, the metrics shown here don't have all the things which could be extremely important to many people. Essentially, the US is too region dependent to make worthy comparisons because of how widely divergent they can be. Same with Europe, actually. Btw, America absolutely has awesome cuisine, Cajun, New England, Native American, BBQ, Californian fusion, etc.
American food is disqualified from the start . The reason is trivial and refers to unnatural genetic modification . Secondly, in the USA, a lot of bad chemicals are used in food production, which are banned in Europe due to their high carcinogenic level . In Europe, a company that introduces a chemical agent to the market must prove that the agent has a minimal impact on human health, and in the USA, a person who is usually sick because of the chemical must prove that the chemical company caused it. Thirdly, do not believe in store-bought organic food because it is fiction and the word organic is used to make more profits. In Europe, 200 chemicals are allowed to be used in the production of organic food. Only 10 products approved for the production of organic food are natural products that are plant extracts from other plants (often weeds) that you can prepare at home without the production of a chemical plant. I think that American organic food is just as saturated with chemicals as regular American food. The quality of life of Europeans is also influenced by the number of paid days off from work . The paradox is that it is paid days off that drive consumerism in Europe and the tourism industry
If you get the insurance charges based on race some people's ethnicity are charged more because of their ethnicity in the US.
Way better in the US. Love america
There’s trade offs to both. Portugal itself has had millions leave for USA, and continues to find itself in a youth exodus.
There’s a very trendy movement in the USA and western civilization in general to develop a star-eyed view toward Europe. Most Americans who moved to Portugal ended up leaving. When vacation ends and life starts there’s a lot of exhausting facts about European life.
Europeans can also be over the top in proving how cultured they are. Watching the Euro 2024 draw was a comedy routine. Do we have to sit through classical music to see who our teams are playing? If we want to digest classical music we can attend a symphony. This was sport.
You again
@@CuteFunnyAnimalsTV-yk7hb you love me huh?
My perception of the US is of a very happy, outgoing, motivated society.
I am Portuguese. Portugal is the exact opposite; Portugal is the country that loves and actually celebrates sadness, melancholy, emotional or spiritual despair. Nonetheless a very sensible community. I found Portugal very similar to Ireland, in the context of their geopolitics.
Just looking at the state of San Francisco right now - my top place to visit when I was younger... Eek. Political/ideological extremism is ruining American society.
The USA has geography. And, NorCal and Hawaii for the trust fund babies.
There is literally so many diverse cultures in North America that it baffles me that anyone can say otherwise. North America has its problems of course but a lack of culture is NOT one of them.
Not compared to EU. Of course Canada and Mexico are different, like Denmark and Spain. Language, culture, people, governments, food, laws, ...
What are the cultures that are generally accepted in the US?
@@arnodobler1096 We have literal hundreds (like over 600) of Native American groups with different languages (including sign language) and cultures, there are Haitian Americans, Jamaican Americans, Mexican American, Japanese Americans, Chinese Americans, Indian Americans, Irish American, Italian Americans, etc, there are regional cultural differences, with distinct dialects, music, and food. The truth is people just don’t take the time to learn anything about people who don’t look like them and they do not value those differences. Watching North American pop culture isn’t the same as being in community with different people and learning about them.
@@GuliversTravelocity Yes, and Europe has been a melting pot for thousands of years. Trade was carried out from Scandinavia to North Africa and Asia. Peoples migrated or were displaced. North America is diverse, sure, but it's not a unique selling point.
Quality of Life is Europe is way Better than in the U.S.